Food Waste Compost
Compost is made up of decomposing organic matter. Its nutrient-dense composition acts as a fertilizer, soil conditioner, and natural pesticide and provides humus to the soil.
Humus is the principal organic component that makes up soil, peat, and coal, and is not to be confused with hummus, the delightful chickpea dip. The composting cycle stacks a diverse range of natural resources, the majority of which are considered waste items. Moisture and heat degrade these components over time, yielding a rich, black soil coveted by home gardeners, landscapers, horticulturists, and organic farms.
There are two forms of composting: hot and cold composting. Composting takes place in a cool setting. The heated method generates the most humus in the shortest amount of time, usually weeks or months. This is due to the high temperatures that may be achieved when high-nitrogen and high-carbon materials are combined. This method also demands constant monitoring of interior temperatures, regular rotation, and sufficient space to achieve the best results.
The cold approach, which is much easier but takes longer, uses both brown and green waste items, which are placed onto a pile as they become available. Internal heat is produced sparingly, and material disintegration occurs over a 6- to 12-month period.
If you want to understand more about this procedure, visit our sister site, Gardener’s Path, and read this article on composting basics. If your area does not have organics recycling, seek drop-off containers at community gardens and farmers markets, as well as with service organizations. Some, such as community gardens, may even have an exchange scheme where you can trade your old humus for your new kitchen waste.
Fertilizing Plants With Coffee Grounds and Eggshells
Don’t throw away the shells the next time you crack a couple of eggs for breakfast or a baked dish. If you garden, the nutrients present in eggshells provide a good and affordable fertilizer for your plants. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, you don’t have to worry about going overboard with eggshells in your garden. Keep in mind that eggshells alone are insufficient for plant nourishment.
Nutritional Analysis
Eggshells are primarily made out of calcium carbonate, which is the ingredient found in agricultural lime. The researcher steeped a shell in water for 24 hours and then sent the water to the lab. The lab results found that the eggshell-infused water contained 4 mg of calcium and potassium, as well as very small amounts of phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium.
Crushing Shells
Instead of brewing tea, break eggshells and place them straight on your garden’s soil. Collect shells during the winter so you’ll have plenty when it’s time to plant. To eliminate any egg residue, wash and dry the shells. In a food processor, combine the shells and pulse until a powder forms. When breaking the eggshells, wear a dust mask to avoid inhaling the eggshell dust. Just before planting, stir the powdered shells into the soil or potting mix. According to Gillman, each plant should have five shells. Before you put a plant root ball in the hole, you can also sprinkle a handful of shells in it.
Calcium is required for plant growth. Calcium aids the development of a robust cellular structure in plants. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, calcium shortage is evident in young plants because the leaves are bent or have black patches. The plant’s overall development is also slowed. A shortage of calcium is visible in fruiting plants, such as tomatoes when the fruits develop blossom end rot or a thin, black patch on the bottom of the fruit. Larger shell pieces help repel slugs, which is another advantage of eggshells in the yard. The slugs’ delicate bodies are irritated by the sharp edges of the shells.
What Makes Tea A Good Or Bad Fertilizer
Tea contains a variety of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen-containing compounds. This makes tea, both in leaf and brewed form, a viable fertilizer in most cases.
The amount of nutrients in tea varies based on the type of tea, when the leaves were harvested, how well the tea plant was fertilized, and other factors. As a result, the answer to the question of how many nutrients are in tea is given as an average.
Which Nutrients Does Tea Contain
Tea leaves don’t all have the same quantity of nutrients in them. According to a study, the following nutrients were found in young and mature tea leaves from two different estates cultivating tea at low and high altitudes. (Reference) Young tea leaves and shoots will contain 4-0.4-2, which implies 4 percent nitrogen, 0.4 percent phosphorous, and 2 percent potassium in the dried leaves, according to the study described above.
The advantage of utilizing older leaves as a fertilizer is not stated because they contain considerably fewer nutrients. Tea leaves are 2.5 percent nitrogen, 0.2 percent phosphorus, and 1% potassium when dry. The nutritional value of older tea leaves is around half that of younger tea leaves.
However, keep in mind that most teams are prepared with younger tea leaves because they have the best flavor. A few mass-produced teas and bitter Pu Erh teas are brewed with older leaves, but this isn’t the standard.
Sum Up!
So which one do you think is more suitable for your snake plants? You decide what’s the best!